League Rules

1) Teams are to show up regardless of weather conditions unless prior arrangements have been made.  If the field is unplayable, the captains may cancel and report it to the division representative.  Games should be cancelled no earlier than 4 pm.  

 

2) Cancellations due to lack of players are not acceptable and will be considered a forfeit, resulting in a 7-0 loss and a $50 forfeit of team bond per occurrence.  If a team forfeits 3 games, the rest of their season is voided.  All their remaining games will be scored as ties.  They will not be allowed to participate in the final tournament.  The link to the Port Coquitlam Field closures is on the website main page. https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/recreation-parks/parks-trails/sports-fields-conditions

 

3) A team must list no less than ten (10) batters of which three (3) must be female.  Any time there are less than 3 females, the game is considered a forfeit.  Teams are permitted to play with nine (9) players, with the last spot scored as an auto out, providing the number of females remains intact.  You can NOT play with (2) females.  The maximum number of batters in a lineup is 16.  

 

4) Sub are allowed and will follow SPN rules.

 

5) Players may register and play with only one team in the league for the playoffs and cannot play at all until they are added to a SPN roster.  A person may spare for another team as long as they are on a SPN roster within the league.

 

6) The scorebook (Yellow copies of line up cards) will be used to prove eligibility should a challenge arise.  All players must have their first and last name put down in the scorebook, i.e. Troy Tite. No nicknames are allowed.  

 

7) To be eligible for the final tournament all players must play a minimum of six (6) games.

 

8) Home team sets up the field and is also responsible for providing the balls.

•  Bases are at 65 feet

• commitment line at 20 feet towards 3rd base

• pitching line at 50 and 65 feet. 

• Home plate will be a wood board measuring 3’x2’ and cover any existing plate. 

*Please use a tape measure if the field is not marked.  1st base must be the larger “safety base” with the orange side in foul territory.  

 

Personal Conduct

 

9) Team captains are responsible for themselves and their players, both on and off the field including fans and supporters.  Abuse, physical and/or verbal will NOT be tolerated.  

Result:  Team will be put on probation for the remainder of the season, including the tournament PLUS all of the following season.  Should there be a 2nd offence, the team will be removed from league play.  All of their wins will become ties as well as any remaining games to be played.  Individual players will be subject to a disciplinary review by the executive.

 

10) All participating players, on the field or in the dugout, are required to wear a shirt/jersey.  Failing to adhere, the player will be removed from play and if it results in the team being unable to field enough players, the game will become a forfeit.

 

11) Music at games must be appropriate (radio edit if necessary) and at a respectable volume.  

 

12) There is no smoking (cigarettes, weed, vape) allowed at any of the fields at any time. 

 

13) Alcohol is permitted as per city bi-laws and is to be consumed off the field of play. 

 

Game play 

 

14) Games will be seven (7) innings in total with a maximum of five (5) runs scored each inning, excluding the 7th inning, which will be considered “open”.  Games tied at the end of 7 innings will not be played. 

 

15)  Pitches will be in an arc of 6’ to 12' pitched from a distance of 50’ to 65’ feet.  Result:  If the pitcher is not within the 50’ to 65’ range, the pitch will be called a “ball” and the pitcher warned.  If there is a 2nd offence, the batter will be awarded 1st base and the pitcher removed from the mound (not the game). The new pitcher will be allowed three (3) warm up pitches.

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16) Four (4) balls without a strike thrown to a male batter with a female batter following (must be on deck or identified to the ump) will result in two (2) bases awarded and all other runners will advance accordingly. If the female batter has not been identified the ump will award only one (1) base.  The female batter must still bat. This also applies to intentional walks.  The team captain may call for an intentional walk to any batter.  No pitches are needed. 

 

17) No defensive player may be closer than 50’ prior to contact with the pitch.  Result: play will be called “dead” and the batter will be awarded 1st base with all forced runners advancing.

 

18) A five (5) person infield is not permitted.  All outfielders must be on the grass before contact is made.  The result is the same as Rule 14.

 

19) Female batters that successfully hit the ball into the grass, whether the ball is hit in the air to the grass or on the ground, will be awarded 1st base.  All other runners are at risk.

 

20) There are no lead offs or anticipation.  Any runner leaving the base before contact is made will be called out.  If said runner is the 3rd out of the inning, the same batter will start the next inning.

 

21) Homeruns on fenced fields (Gates and Aggie)  will be scored with the progressive “Plus 2” rule. Any more homeruns will count as an out.

Evergreen a ball hit into the trees or tennis court will be scored as a homerun but will not count towards the “Plus 2” rule.  Balls hit under the trees will be scored as a ground rule double.   

Cedar, any ball into the trees will be scored as a homerun but will not count towards the “Plus 2” rule.

 Aggie, any ball hitting the tree branches in right field that are considered in play will result in a dead ball, double. Runners will be awarded 1 base from their starting position. 

 

22) A 2.5 strike rule is in effect, one (1) additional foul ball is permitted with 2 strikes already called. A subsequent strike after 2 called strikes is an out.  

 

23) Only females are allowed to bunt. If a female bunts with two (2) strikes and the ball goes foul she will be out. No 2.5 is awarded. 

 

24) If a batted ball hits home plate, it is considered a foul ball and the play is dead. 

 

25) You may substitute a pinch runner at any time for any reason. There is a team max of 5 per game and they can only run once per game.  Males will only run for males, females for anyone. Should a pinch runner be on base when it is their turn to bat, a new runner may be substituted with the same effect.  

*Exception*: 

In the case of an injury, once all runners have been used, teams may start the process over.

Pitchers who wear additional protective equipment (chest and or shin pads), with 2 outs, will be permitted an additional courtesy runner to allow time to put on gear. 

 

26) All batters on the scorecard (excluding subs) must play one (1) inning defensively.

 

27)  Runners cannot touch home plate or they will be called out.  Any runner on/over/across the 20’ commitment line must advance home; otherwise they will be called out going back to 3rd base.  Tagging a runner is not necessary but is allowed.  The runner must not initiate contact with the catcher, deliberately or accidentally, or they will be called out.

 

28) Any rule not covered in the league specific rules as outlined above will be subject to the SPN official guidelines.